Blackness.

Everywhere she looked she saw nothing but blackness, everywhere she looked was nothing but blackness.

Above her, below her, on all sides as she fell through the inky void: Blackness.

There was no light, there was nothing. She couldn't see and for a moment she doubted very existence. Was she even alive? She would have thought she was dead had it not been for the rush and whistle of air swirling around her as she fell.

She wasn't dead but what was happening? How was it so dark? Where was she?

The last thing she remembered was standing on an odd looking tile, looking for an entrance to the underground temple of Neptune. She'd come to see Dark-sama.

"Dark-sama…" She whimpered his name, but the rushing of the wind was so loud that the precious name didn't even reach her own ears.

Was this how she was to die? Alone and in the darkness? Would anyone fnd her? Who would tell her parents, her sister? Riku would never forgive her if she died.

"No!" She whimpered again, tears streaming from her eyes to stream upwards with the wind her fall created. She couldn't die, she had to see Dark-sama! She couldn't die, not yet!

"Please, Dark-sama…" She clenched her eyes shut and prayed with all her heart, "Please, save me. Please I need to see you again."

Suddenly, warm arms wrapped around her tight and the sensation of falling stopped and the sounds of the air and wind changed, whistling through feathers that seemed to glow softly, giving off a dim white light though it did little to cut back the blackness that surrounded them.

"Who are you?" She whispered, eyes wide as she strained to catch a glimpse of her savior. "Dark-sama?"

"No." The voice was soft and melodious, much like Dark-sama's but different. "Never compare me to such as he." The glow brightened and she stared up at the strange blonde man who held her safe in his arms. "My name is Krad, Harada-san."

"Krad-sama." She tried the name, finding it rolled off the tong in a strangely satisfying manner. "Where am I? What's going on? Why don't you like Dark-sama?" She had so many questions of this new man and a few of them spilled out before she could stop herself.

Krad didn't answer her, his golden eyes seeming to glow in the darkness. She opened her mouth to ask him to answer her questions but before she could say anything his mouth descended on hers, effectively silencing her before he placed her on her feet in a dark corridor.

"Continuing walking straight and the one you seek will find you." He pulled away and gave her a small push. "Now go and don't' make me regret saving your life." He took off, powerful wings lifting him effortlessly as he flew away.

Risa Harada stared after him her eyes wide and one hand softly touching her tingling lips. That stranger, this Krad-sama she would never forget him.

He'd stolen her first kiss.